Internship (Soc 371)
Why do an internship?
Internships and volunteer community service positions offer an excellent opportunity to explore career options and gain practical experience. Internships also offer a way to build your resume and enhance prospects for employment after graduation. Students learn a variety of skills through direct participation in settings where sociological concepts, methods and theories are applied.
A wide variety of internship opportunities are available throughout Whatcom and Skagit Counties. While some internships are paid positions, many are unpaid. Remember that an internship will help pave the way to employment opportunities, so working without pay may well be worth your investment of time and energy in the long run. Data show that sociology students who take part in internships find it much easier to find employment later.
Earn 5 credits in Soc 371 - Directed Internship
Sociology students can earn up to 10 credits of Soc 371 while gaining internship experience. For more information see the Sociology Internship Guide.
Internship Info Sessions
Are you interested in doing an internship for credit in the Sociology Department but you’re not sure where to start? Dr. Mogford will be hosting informational sessions in Winter and Spring Quarters about what internships are, why they are important for your post-graduation plans, and how to find and secure an internship. If you are hoping to do an internship this summer or next academic year it is HIGHLY recommended you attend one of these workshops. All sociology majors are welcome!
SOC 371 (formerly 471) Directed Internship (5 credits)
SOC 371 (471) Prerequisites
- SOC 302
- SOC 306 (210)
- Permission from the Sociology Department.
All interns work at least 10 hours per week at the work site, in the type of work specified in the contract. In addition, students complete three written assignments, including a research paper. This is a 5-credit course, repeatable to a maximum of 10 credits. Both the on-site supervisor and the Internship Coordinator are responsible for the evaluation of interns at the end of the quarter.
Program objectives:
Students apply sociological concepts and methods to better understand social issues and problems while engaged in on-site work experiences in various settings. Internship experiences provide valuable knowledge about the complexities of professional work, the process by which individuals find jobs, and the interconnection of agencies, organizations, and public policy, among other issues. In addition, internship experiences provide students with valuable information about their own occupational preferences.
See the Sociology Internship Guide for more information on program objectives and requirements.
How to obtain an internship
Students are responsible for finding their own internship placement. The internship setting should offer the student professional-level work that is related to one of the sub-areas of sociology (for example, criminal justice, social inequality, sociology of family, youth, aging, urban studies, education, etc.). The work should be varied, non-clerical, involve instruction and learning opportunities, and be relevant to the mission of the agency or organization.
See Consider Doing An Internship for more information on how to find an internship.
To register for Soc 371 (471)
You will need override permission from the Sociology Department. Please contact the Sociology Internship Coordinator, Liz Mogford for more information.
For information about internships unrelated to the sociology department (not for sociology credit) please visit the Career Services Center Jobs and Internships resources page.
Internship Documents
Past Internship Opportunities
Our students have completed internships in a variety of local city and county organizations.